The best-laid plans of mice and men...
Dear First Pres SLO Family,
Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus the Messiah, the one who entered our world and enters our lives, so that we can know what God is like.
“The best-laid plans of mice and men, often go awry…”
It’s fitting that this poem comes to mind today, since it was written by Scotland’s most important poet, Robert Burns. Shelley and I were supposed to be flying to Scotland today to begin a pilgrimage walk from Edinburgh to St Andrews, visiting old Christian sites and shrines along the way. (You’ll read more about it in the Kirk!)
But that plan went awry last week when I came down with the flu.
In itself, this flu isn’t dangerous for me. I’ve had a headache and fever and a pretty bad cough, and I’ve been pretty much on my back since Friday. I’m already feeling better, but the timing of it couldn’t have been worse. I wouldn’t be pleasant to fly right now, and I don’t think a 75-mile walk would be a good idea for me in my present state! I’d be fine to fly with a few extra days, but not today, and so the whole trip had to be scrubbed.
My mom is the queen of looking on the bright side, so I’ll share a few good things that I’ve seen or learned in the last week.
First, my reconstructed heart was fine while I was sick, and kept doing its job as I’ve gotten better. That may seem like a given, but the last year has taught me to notice things that I used to take for granted.
Second, when your body needs you to shut down, there’s no arguing with it. I’ve worked through colds and fevers before, and when I was playing sports I was almost always playing through some kind of pain. But sometimes the only thing you can do is stop and let your body heal. Personally, I think I’ve had quite enough of that lesson this year, but apparently that’s not for me to decide.
But the best thing I got to experience through this brief illness was on Sunday morning. My wife Shelley had been down in LA for the weekend—we’d agreed that she should stay an extra night to minimize exposure to me. Right up until early Sunday morning I was planning on coming to church, wearing a mask and keeping my distance. At 6am, though, it was pretty clear that I couldn’t make it, and I started calling people to take parts of the service. Without being asked, Shelley had already started driving at 5:30am, just in case she was needed to fill in. She got home and got ready, read the sermon for the first time at about 8:30, then went and led the service at First Pres.
Over the last few years I’ve watched Shelley work so hard to study and prepare and live into her calling as a pastor. On Sunday we all saw just how completely ready she is for whatever God has in store for her next. What a gift that was, not just for me but for our whole church family.
So…I’ll be back at church on Sunday. Shelley and I will figure out some time to get away over the next few weeks, but for the most part we’ll be around.
“The best-laid plans of mice and men, often go awry…”
And sometimes, when they go awry, we get to learn new things and find new things to celebrate. That’s the best “bright side” thinking I can muster as I’m cooped up in my house. I think my mom would be proud.
Blessings to you,
Pastor John
PS: The preaching text this week is the story contained in Judges 4 and 5.